Larsson, Asa 1966-

PERSONAL:

Born 1966, in Kiruna, Sweden; married; children: two.

CAREER:

Writer. Formerly worked as a tax lawyer.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Marin Beck Award, Swedish Academy of Detection, 2003, for Zonnestorm.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

Zonnestorm, Ambo/Anthos (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2004, translation by Marlaine Delargy published as Sun Storm, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2006.

Midzomernacht, Ambo/Anthos (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 2005, translation by Marlaine Delargy published as The Blood Spilt, Delacorte Press (New York, NY), 2007

SIDELIGHTS:

Asa Larsson worked as a tax lawyer before taking up writing full-time and producing the mysteries Zonnestorm and Midzomernacht, translated from the original Swedish and published in the United States as Sun Storm and The Blood Spilt respectively.

Sun Storm revolves around the murder of young Viktor Strandgard, who was given the nickname "Paradise Boy" because he once had a near-death experience. His body is discovered in the church where he had performed healings; his gruesome killing appears to have been a ritualistic act. Viktor's body is found by his sister, Sanna, who eventually becomes a suspect in the murder. Seeking help, the strange and otherworldly Sanna approaches a childhood friend, Rebecka Martinsson, who is now a lawyer. Assisting in the search for justice is Inspector Anna-Maria Mella, whose work is complicated by her pregnancy. Their investigations raise suspicions about the church, its members, and their motives. Michelle Leber, a reviewer for Library Journal praised the author's evocative descriptions of the Swedish setting, and further noted: "This is superior psychological suspense." The resolution to the story is somewhat predictable, according to a Kirkus Reviews writer, who nevertheless found that Larsson portrays "her characters with mordant wit and describes their village with richly atmospheric details."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 2006, Bill Ott, review of Sun Storm, p. 31.

Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2006, review of Sun Storm, p. 256.

Library Journal, April 1, 2006, Michelle Leber, review of Sun Storm, p. 70.

ONLINE

Decatur Daily Online,http://www.decaturdaily.com/ (November 14, 2006), Jane Davis, review of Sun Storm.